gait

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Icelandic horse

hackney horse performing a trot

gait

animal locomotion

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June 29, 2026

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Icelandic horse — Icelandic horse An Icelandic horse moving swiftly at the tölt, a smooth four-beat, lateral running walk.

Gait refers to an animal's manner of walking or moving on foot. It encompasses the sequence of foot movements, such as walking, trotting, or cantering, that an animal uses to progress from one place to another. The specific gait is determined by the need to maintain balance and stability, which dictates the coordinated movements of the legs.123

Different animals have distinct gaits. For instance, horses have natural gaits like the walk, trot, canter, and gallop. In vertebrates and arthropods, locomotion involves raising the body and moving it forward using legs, with the sequence of movements ensuring the center of gravity remains within the zone of support. The speed of locomotion is influenced by stride length and duration, with longer propulsive stages leading to slower gaits.43

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horsemanship
The horse’s movements
The natural gaits of the horse are the walk, the trot, the canter or slow gallop, and the gallop, although in dressage the canter and gallop are not usually differentiated. A riding horse is trained in each gait and in the change from one to another.
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The natural gaits of the horse are the walk, the trot, the canter or slow gallop, and the gallop, although in dressage the canter and gallop are not usually differentiated. A riding horse is trained in each gait and in the change from one to another.
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canter
gait of a horse during which one or the other of the forelegs and both hind legs lead practically together, followed by the other foreleg and then a complete suspension when all four legs are off the ground.
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gait of a horse during which one or the other of the forelegs and both hind legs lead practically together, followed by the other foreleg and then a complete suspension when all four legs are off the ground.
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Tennessee walking horse
…running walk is a natural gait that may be improved but not acquired by a horse without the natural ability. The gait is faster than a flat-footed walk, with a speed of 10 to 13 km (6 to 8 miles) per hour. The front foot strikes the ground an instant…
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…running walk is a natural gait that may be improved but not acquired by a horse without the natural ability. The gait is faster than a flat-footed walk, with a speed of 10 to 13 km (6 to 8 miles) per hour. The front foot strikes the ground an instant…
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